Calling all artists: Delray seeking public art to capture city’s history

DELRAY BEACH — If the public walls of Delray Beach could speak, what tales would they tell?

The city’s Public Art Advisory Board wants those walls to share the history of this sprawling city through a new initiative to commission public art throughout Delray.

“Really, outside the downtown area, there is very little public art in Delray Beach,” said Dan Bellante, a retired professor of art history and chairman of the advisory board.

The city is seeking applications for the “Heritage Art Project,” a planned series of meaningful works that will appear throughout the city and reflect Delray’s past. Any South Florida artists can apply, and they’ll work with the board to find the best locations for the art — anything ranging from murals to sculptures.

“In any dynamic, changing city, especially a city that is growing, the heritage is lost,” Bellante said. “It disappears.”

Any artists or groups of artists who apply should research the city, Bellante suggested, and pitch ideas unique to Delray Beach. The fees should not exceed $15,000.

The works should remind residents of the “lost history” of the city, Bellante said. “There are all kinds of artifacts and memorabilia that artists can incorporate into meaningful, thought-provoking works.”

The works can appear almost anywhere in the city, as long as the property is public or a private owner agrees to donate a portion of property. The idea is to spread public art to areas outside downtown and the Pineapple Grove arts district.

In the past, the Public Arts Advisory Board, founded in 2005, has commissioned pieces like the Gateway Sculptures, six wavy 30-foot columns off Interstate 95 at West Atlantic Avenue, and the Knowles Knots, red spiral-like sculptures at Knowles Park.

Said Bellante: “There’s a long history of cities using public art to preserve their heritage, to commemorate and to inspire.”

To apply for the “Heritage Art Project,” contact the city’s Parks Department at (561) 243-7136. Applications are due by Oct. 17 and should include a resume, digital images of previous works and sketches for proposed ideas.

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